"We live in a very peaceful community," said Mohammad Khan of Thousand Oaks. "People are educated. They're open-minded. They don't speculate."

But elsewhere in the nation and the state, the tension that began with speculation that Tuesday's attacks are linked to Islamic extremists mounted with reports of windows shot out of a mosque in Irving, Texas, and obscene graffiti painted in the worship area of a mosque near Sterling, Va.

In Los Angeles, a Muslim community leader said four Islamic schools serving about 500 students remained closed Wednesday. An administrator of an elementary school in Granada Hills said about half of its 30 students stayed home. Mosques and other groups reported a barrage of threats.

"We've had a number of calls, very vicious phone calls threatening, 'We're going to get you. Go back home. We're going to kill you,' " said Omar Ricci, spokesman for the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles. "There needs to be a message of tolerance at this very sad and tragic time."

Because of the threats, two police officers are at the Islamic Center of Southern California providing security, Ricci said. But that hasn't stopped a flood of Internet hate so large it has caused some Muslim Web sites to shut down.

"The Muslim community finds itself under siege," said Aslam Abdullah, editor of the Minaret Islamic magazine in Los Angeles. "We've received phone calls: 'Pack up and go back home.' They say they'll shoot us.' We say, 'This is our country.' "

But in Ventura County, incidents have been few. A woman wearing Muslim clothing was reportedly cussed out in a grocery store. A customer at an Oxnard restaurant reported to police Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning that the same customers -- reported as being foreigners -- were speaking in another language in a tone and volume that was disruptive.

"I think his initial take (Tuesday) was that they were possibly celebrating what had happened," said Oxnard Police sgt. Jason Benites. A waitress who served the customers Tuesday morning said they were just reading the paper and discussing Tuesday's events.

"They weren't doing anything illegal or wrong," Benites said.

A few Muslims talked about comments they categorized as stereotypical and inappropriate, but many said they hadn't experienced any problems at all.

"No news is good news," said Bader Iqbal, a vice president of the Islamic Center of Conejo Valley, categorizing the backlash elsewhere in Southern California as "absolutely knee-jerk reactions. ... I would hope logic and common sense permeates through the haze of anger and frustration."

As about nine people gathered Wednesday at the Newbury Park center for daily prayers, they focused on the same things consuming the rest of the nation -- the safety of friends and family in New York and the senseless loss of innocent lives.

"My heart goes to the people who are suffering," said Khan, who has lived in Thousand Oaks on and off for about 25 years. "We are human beings. No matter where you're from, what your race is, what your religion is, we should live in peace and harmony."

At Foothill Technology High School in Ventura, history teachers are talking to their students about terrorism and Islam, covering everything from the faith's tenets to Osama bin Laden.

"The extremists do not define Islam," said Richard Geib, the teacher who put the curriculum together. "All religions have their extremists."

Ventura County sheriff's Cmdr. Keith Parks issued his own caution to people caught up in anger.

"It's important people remember the comments they're making are directed toward fellow Americans," he said. "I hope the diversity of Southern California in particular gives us a sense that when America is attacked, it doesn't mean our neighbors and friends are doing this. We're all in this together."

-- Staff writer Leslie Parrilla contributed to this report.

-- Tom Kisken's e-mail address is kisken@insidevc.com.

September 13, 2001